Valerie Morse, a well-known Wellington anarchist activist and one of the 17 arrested in the police 'anti-terror' raids, previously published a book on the effects of the 'war on terror' just six months prior.

'Against Freedom: The war on terrorism in everyday New Zealand life' was published in June and is a prophetic survey of the raft of anti-terror legislation passed in New Zealand since 2001 and of the dangers posed for activists - especially those involved in anti-war, environmental and Tino Rangatiratanga movements - as well as migrants and refugees. It also covers the rise of State surveillance by the Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the media complicity in its reporting on the 'war on terror' in the Pacific and further abroad.

A prophetic passage from the book reads as such:
"It is clear that political dissent is now more perilous and more treacherous than before September 11th. Given the new counter-terrorism laws, the possibility of being not only labelled a terrorist in the media, but prosecuted as one, is a reality. By casting political dissent as terrorism, the government, its agencies, the media, and other vested interests assault our freedom of expression" (82).

The book is freely available as PDF on the Rebel Press website (www.rebelpress.org.nz), as a hard copy directly from the publisher, or from a number of popular book stores including Unity Books and The Freedom Shop in Wellington.

Valerie Morse had name suppression lifted yesterday but remains detained by the State. Her publisher offers her their unconditional support and solidarity, and demand all charges against the 17 be dropped immediately.

Rebel Press / PO Box 9263 / Te Aro / Wellington
info (at) rebelpress.org.nz